Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, December 15, 2014

Name: Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, December 15, 2014
Start: 2014-12-15T04:00
End: 2014-12-15T21:00
Location: South Dakota

December 15, 2014 · NWS FSD · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Freezing rain and freezing drizzle preceded snow in southeast South Dakota on December 15th. The freezing precipitation began during the predawn hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FSD wrote it up.

Freezing rain and freezing drizzle preceded snow in southeast South Dakota on December 15th. The freezing precipitation began during the predawn hours. Precipitation changed to snow during the day and the snow continued into the evening. Ice storm and winter storm conditions were produced in some areas, either for ice accumulations alone, or for the combination of ice and snow accumulations.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 14, 5:39 PM CST, 10 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 14, 5:39 PM CST, 10 hours 21 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 14, 3:36 PM CST, 12 hours 24 minutes before

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 winter weather, 10 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Brule

When: December 15, 4:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Brule forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.718, -99.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, including a quarter inch of ice at Chamberlain. The freezing rain was followed by 3 to 8 inches of snow, including 8 inches 7 1/2 miles south southwest of Chamberlain. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Gregory

When: December 15, 4:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Gregory forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.192, -99.186 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at a quarter inch. The freezing rain was followed by 3 to 7 inches of snow, including 4.9 inches 4 miles southwest of Burke. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and some areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered. There was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Charles Mix

When: December 15, 4:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Charles Mix forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.208, -98.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at a couple tenths of an inch or more. The freezing rain was followed by 3 to 7 inches of snow, including 7.2 inches at Pickstown. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered. There was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Jerauld

When: December 15, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Jerauld forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.066, -98.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, including a quarter inch of ice at Wessington Springs. The freezing rain was followed by 1 to 3 inches of snow, and strong northwest winds which produced some drifting snow and a few areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Aurora

When: December 15, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Aurora forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.718, -98.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, including a quarter inch of ice at White Lake. The freezing rain was followed by 2 to 5 inches of snow, including 4 inches at White Lake. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and some areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Davison

When: December 15, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Davison forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.675, -98.146 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at a couple tenths of an inch or more. The freezing rain was followed by 2 to 5 inches of snow, including 4.2 inches at Mitchell. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and some areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered. A radio tower in Mitchell collapsed, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Douglas

When: December 15, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.387, -98.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at a couple tenths of an inch or more. The freezing rain was followed by 3 to 6 inches of snow. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered. There was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Weather, Hutchinson

When: December 15, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hutchinson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.335, -97.754 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations estimated at a tenth of an inch, causing icy roads, as well as cancellations or early dismissals at some schools. The freezing rain was followed by snowfall of 2 to 4 inches, including 3 inches at Menno.

Winter Weather, Bon Homme

When: December 15, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Bon Homme forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.988, -97.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations measured at a tenth of an inch at Tyndall, causing icy roads, as well as cancellations or early dismissals at some schools. The freezing rain was followed by snowfall of 2 to 5 inches, including 3.5 inches at Tyndall.

Winter Weather, Beadle

When: December 15, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Beadle forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 44.415, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Sanborn

When: December 15, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Sanborn forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.023, -98.091 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Kingsbury

When: December 15, 6:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Kingsbury forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.370, -97.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations measured at a tenth of an inch at De Smet, causing icy roads, as well as cancellations or early dismissals at some schools. The freezing rain was followed by snowfall of 1 to 2 inches.

Winter Weather, Miner

When: December 15, 6:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Miner forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.022, -97.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Hanson

When: December 15, 6:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hanson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.675, -97.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Yankton

When: December 15, 6:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Yankton forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.009, -97.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lake

When: December 15, 7:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.022, -97.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, including a quarter inch or more at Madison. The freezing rain was followed by 1 to 3 inches of snow, including 2.7 inches 2 miles north of Chester. Strong northwest winds produced some drifting snow and a few areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Weather, McCook

When: December 15, 7:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: McCook forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.674, -97.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Minnehaha

When: December 15, 7:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Minnehaha forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.674, -96.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch, causing icy roads, as well as cancellations or early dismissals at some schools. The freezing rain was followed by snowfall of 2 to 5 inches, including 4.8 inches 1/2 mile north of Hartford.

Winter Weather, Turner

When: December 15, 7:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Turner forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.311, -97.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Lincoln

When: December 15, 7:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.279, -96.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Clay

When: December 15, 7:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.915, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations estimated at up to a tenth of an inch, causing icy roads. The freezing rain was followed by snowfall of 1 to 3 inches.

Winter Storm, Moody

When: December 15, 8:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Moody forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.022, -96.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at one quarter inch. The freezing rain was followed by 1 to 3 inches of snow. Strong northwest winds produced some drifting snow and a few areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Storm, Brookings

When: December 15, 8:00 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Brookings forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.370, -96.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at one quarter inch. The freezing rain was followed by 1 to 2 inches of snow. Strong northwest winds produced some drifting snow. Roads were made very icy, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

Winter Weather, Union

When: December 15, 8:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.833, -96.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations estimated at less than a tenth of an inch, causing some icy roads. The freezing rain was followed by snowfall of up to 2 inches.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, December 2014

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 549604, 549611, 549615, 549602, 549605, 549609, 549617, 549644, 549645, 549638, 549639, 549640, 549641, 549642, 549646, 549627, 549643, 549648, 549649, 549650, 549651, 549628, 549630, 549652.